The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7 continues to support the advocacy of the Autism Society Philippines called Autism-OK, where acceptance, appreciation, and accommodation of people on the autism spectrum is strengthened.

DSWD 7 showed its support by participating in the Angels Walk for Autism on April 21, 2024, at the SM Seaside City Cebu with a delegation composed of staff and clients of the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II, a non-residential facility for vocational rehabilitation of PWDs.

This platform is a testament to the commitment of ASP to growing advocacy and a call to action for raising public awareness, private involvement, and inclusion of the autism agenda in government social development initiatives.

The said walk brought Cebu’s autism community, including PWAs, their families, learning institutions, volunteers, NGOs, socio-civic organizations, and advocates from the public and private sectors.

This kind of autism-inclusive advocacy needs a multi-sectoral approach; thus, care for and responsiveness to the maturing population of Filipinos on the spectrum must be felt not only in their homes but in all places of society.

The Autism Society Philippines is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential and become self-reliant, productive, independent, and socially accepted members of society. Currently, the organization is composed of over 13,000 members with 97 chapters all over the country, according to their official website.

ASP is a member of the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs or RCDA, chaired by DSWD 7, with members from government agencies and non-government organizations mandated to formulate policies and activities concerning PWD issues and concerns.

While so much work still needs to be done, DSWD 7, the committee chair, hopes to see a society with genuine concern for the sector’s welfare. Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, the committee chairperson, said that the Department remains dedicated to pushing for an agenda that includes persons with autism.

“In the regular quarterly meetings of RCDA, we always include ASP to express their concerns and how the body can collectively respond to the needs of PWAs. On top of that, the committee constantly advocates for the anti-bullying law that protects PWAs against discrimination, equal employment opportunity through vocational rehabilitation in our center, and championing for visible and functional PDAOs in LGUs. These are our commitments as ‘angels’ for those on the autism spectrum,” she said.

DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) may extend financial relief to individuals and families needing medical assistance. ###

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